self-scheduling and travelers

Usually a request sheet is posted ahead of the new schedule and put in my requests with everyone else. I've been pretty lucky most of the time.

It really depends on the unit you are working (or the hospital). Where I am now, I fill in my schedule the same time as the regular staff. The scheduler will move me as needed, but so far she's been good in keeping me on the dates that I put down. My next assignment however, I really have not say. My dates are put in AFTER the regular staff are situated and I'm placed where there are holes. I know I work every other weekend and the only say I pretty much have is whether I want all my work days grouped together. Your time off is worked into your schedule.

Each facility can set their own schedule for travel nurses, some are quite flexible and others are quite strict. Best to find out their policy when you interview, and let thme know that there are certain days that you will need off, etc.

But remember that as a travel nurse, you were hired to fill in gaps in their schedule.........same thing when you do per diem agency. You are filling in holes in the facility's schedule, not the other way around. Depends on how accomodating that the hospital wants to be.

I am currently a traveler in virginia. Initally when I spoke to the NM during the phone interview, one of her selling points was that her unit did self-scheduling. However, when I arrived on the unit, I soon learned that this did not apply to travelers. So far I have not had any problems with my schedule, but i was disappointed that she told me this when clearly it does not apply to travelers.